Scott has come under fire over the decision to cast white actors in the lead roles, despite depicting events taking place in the Middle East and north Africa. The veteran British film-maker has said casting on his Moses epic was predicated on the need to attract financial backing. At the film’s New York premiere on 7 December, he told critics to “get a life”.

Bale, meanwhile, said Scott was not to blame for casting and appeared to suggest audience habits would need to change if actors of Middle Eastern or north African heritage are ever to be given a chance in similarly pitched Hollywood productions.

“No doubt it would have been a melting pot between Europe and the Middle East and north Africa,” Bale admitted, when asked what people would have looked like in Egypt and Canaan during the time of Moses. He said Scott had been “incredibly honest in getting a large, big-budget film like this made”.

Christian Bale (left) and Ridley Scott at a party to celebrate the premiere of Exodus: Gods and Kings. Photograph: Startraks Photo/Rex

“I don’t think fingers should be pointed, but we should all look at ourselves and say, ‘Are we supporting wonderful actors in films by north African and Middle Eastern film-makers and actors, because there are some fantastic actors out there.

“If people start supporting those films more and more, then financiers in the market will follow. The audience has to show financiers that they will be there, and [then] they could make a large-budget film.

“To me, that would be a day of celebration. For the actors, it would be wonderful. It would be a wonderful day for humanity, but also for films and for storytelling in general.”

Scott, 77, previously said of Exodus: Gods and Kings: “I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such. I’m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn’t even come up.”